Confused by town? Motorists should be!

READING has won the inauspicious title of being one of the worst places in the UK to navigate, according to a survey It is also the only town in a top 10 that features nine cities.

And Reading ranks higher in the confusion stakes than Edinburgh, Cardiff and York.

Drivers who took part in an online survey of 4,000 motorists were given a choice of 25 cities and towns in the UK to choose from.

Reading was ranked the tenth worst place in the UK outside of London to drive through in the navigation hall of shame.

The survey, which was carried out by Toyota to promote a new in-car navigation system, found

complicated one-way systems. were among the biggest culprits in the confusion stakes.

And 16 per cent of those polled admitted they had been so bamboozled by road networks they had spent two hours ‘simply driving round in circles'

when lost. More than half now rely on public transport when visiting towns and cities.

The AA also says one in every five miles covered by vehicles is the result of people getting lost or taking the wrong turn.

AA spokeswoman Rebecca Rees said: "Any town or city that wants to attract visitors needs to have a decent transport system.

"We in the UK waste something like 350 tonnes of fuel getting lost and making navigation errors and we reckon it can account for 20 per cent of total mileage in the UK, so clearly it is important for towns and cities to be sign posted properly."

But Reading transport supremo Councillor John Howarth claims our roads and signs are no worse than anywhere else.

The councillor said: "From a personal point of view I don't find any of these cities difficult to drive in. I have driven all over the UK and I find it pretty easy to find my way around.

"How anyone finds it difficult to get around Leeds mystifies me but then maybe I'm just blessed that way.

"It's an interesting marketing stunt by Toyota and I hope their navigation system sells well."

But he added: "The list reflects very closely the list of retail centres so it's not surprising Reading is on it.

"It is always possible to improve and I would be interested in considering views from people who come to Reading and find the signage difficult."